Oxford location highlights importance of UK in global fusion energy development

The 30^th IEEE Symposium on Fusion Engineering biennial conference will take place in the UK this week – only the second time that it has taken place outside of the US and the first time it has been in Europe.

And fusion experts say the event in Oxford, England, will become the ‘epicentre of the global fusion community’, as hundreds of scientists and engineers gather to progress fusion energy power plant development.

In a sign of the growing interest in fusion energy – and the momentum behind the technology – the event has record attendance with over 700 delegates from 26 countries.

Interior of the JET Tokamak. Image credit: EUROfusion

It is being hosted by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, and UKAEA’s Head of Innovation Dr Heather Lewtas, who is also chair of SOFE 2023, said: “It is an extremely exciting time for fusion energy in the UK and internationally.

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“SOFE 2023 provides an important platform where technical conversations between public and private fusion organisations can take place alongside the supply chain and academia.

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“There has already been fantastic development in our field, but it will be the strength of our global community that will make fusion energy part of the world’s future power supply.”

Highlights of the event programme will include:

STEP – UK prototype fusion energy powerplant: UKAEA’s Director of STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production), Paul Methven, will outline the programme’s progression and onwards journey.
Women in Fusion evening event: Gabriela Hearst, Creative Director of Chloé, will discuss her experiences from COP27 and why she’s using her fashion platform to campaign for climate change and fusion energy (live streamed on Instagram).
Fusion companies panel discussion: organisations from across the world will describe ambitious plans to bring fusion to the grid, including Tokamak Energy, General Fusion, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Hellion and TAE.
International panel discussion: representatives from Europe, US, Japan, China and South Korea, will discuss national fusion powerplant initiatives.

Jason Dreisbach, Head of Advanced Energy Technologies at Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, said: “The UK is at the forefront of fusion development. The technological progress made in recent years means that SOFE has come at the perfect time to focus attention on commercialisation and the need to shift from theory towards engineering the science of fusion.”

Taka Nagao, co-founder and chief executive of Kyoto Fusioneering, added: “The journey to commercial fusion relies on collaborations, partnerships, and resource mobilisation.